Public Health Further Politicized Under the Threat of More Firings

The host

In a very unusual press conference of the White House this week, President Donald Trump – without proof – boldly blamed an pain reliever and a series of infant vaccines for having caused a recent increase in autism. It came only a few days after the newly reconstituted advisory committee on vaccination practices, now populated by skeptics and vaccine adversaries, voted to change long -standing recommendations.

Podcast host Julie Rovner Interview Demeter Daskalakis, who, until last month, was the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, on the reaction to these unprecedented actions.

Meanwhile, as the government approaches, a probable closure, with the congress during funding for the new financial year which begins on October 1, the Trump administration orders federal agencies not to compete in workers but to dismiss them if their work does not align with the president’s priorities.

This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner from Kff Health News, Anna Edney from Bloomberg News and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call.

Panelists

Among the take -out dishes of this week’s episode:

• The Federal Office of Management and Budget sent a note on Wednesday evening to government agencies requesting emergency plans in the event of the government closed from October 1. Such a memo is not unusual with regard to pre-Shutdown planning. This time, it took an unprecedented turn in the information of the agency staff that they should prepare for mass layoffs of employees whose programs lack alternative funding sources or who work on a program whose mission is not aligned directly with Trump’s priorities. Although federal Rifs, or strength reductions, and government closings have already occurred, the Rif / stops combined threat is a first.

• It seems that we are heading for a stop. Before adjourning until the end of the financial year on September 30, the Chamber approved a Stopgap financing measure. But, because the members of the room do not plan to return to Washington before October 6, that leaves the Senate in a jam. If the senators change something in the bill, this would require another vote from the Chamber, which, due to the room schedule, may not occur before the end of the month.

• There are also interpretched conflicts. Republicans say they want a clean bill to provide short -term funding, while Democrats have other ideas. Their dominant attitude is that they accompanied this approach in March and were burned. This week, Trump also canceled a meeting with Democratic leaders. The main thing is that the two sides are delighted with a position that would allow them to throw a stop in the aisle. Some call it a three -dimensional chess game, while others call it a chicken game. Anyway, there will be consequences.

• Confusion and chaos have become fashionable words to describe two recent events: last week’s meeting of the CDC advisory committee on vaccination practices and the White House press conference this week on autism. Both were marked by mixed messages. During the White House event, for example, Trump warned pregnant women not to take Tylenol. But the FDA information which followed shortly minimized the risk of Tylenol.

• The new fees of $ 100,000 from the Trump administration for H-1B visas may have an impact on health care. These visas are often used by students graduate in medicine and other health professionals who come to the United States for training, then remain to be practiced. These costs of $ 100,000 are raised and generated an almost immediate reaction of hospitals and health systems, especially those in rural areas – a reaction that attracted administration officials. Administration officials suggested that health professionals would qualify for an exemption from these costs. What is not yet clear is what sponsor hoops should jump to qualify for this.

• Trump gave 17 pharmaceutical companies a period of September 29 by which they will have to agree to adopt his “most favored” price policy. It is intended to increase the charges of drug manufacturers in other countries while lowering prices in the United States between administration and drug manufacturers are underway. Until now, the indications are that Trump could end up with half a pasture. Some major drug manufacturers have announced that they would increase specific drug prices in other countries but have not agreed to reduce prices in the United States

In addition, for “additional credit”, the panelists suggest that the health policy stories they read this week that they think you should also read:

Julie Rovner: “RFK Jr. de NBC News has the federal vaccination court in sight. Attacking it could threaten the production of vaccines in the United States, ”by Liz Szabo.

Anna Edney: The “laws on the abortion of the state of Washington Post affect female recruitment?

Sandhya Raman: “Propublica psychiatric hospitals divert patients who need urgent care. The establishments are confronted with little consequences ”, by Eli Cahan.

Also mentioned in this week’s podcast:

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